Diagnostic unit and method

Abstract

A diagnostic unit is coupled to at least one vehicle control subsystem. The vehicle control subsystem includes one or more of a brake control unit, an engine control unit, and a transmission control unit to provide vehicle data. The diagnostic unit generates diagnostic log information based on the vehicle data and communicates the diagnostic log information to a remote computing device, which hosts a reverse auction to identify at least one vendor that can provide vehicle service based on the diagnostic log information. After identifying the vendor, the diagnostic unit generates and presents service information representing the identified vendor to a vehicle operator via an input/output interface in the vehicle. The input/output interface can accept vehicle data, configuration data, and diagnostic data from the vehicle and the vehicle operator.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
         1 . A method to operate a diagnostic unit installed onboard a medium or heavy duty vehicle, comprising:
 powering the diagnostic unit with onboard vehicle electric power;   receiving parameters that control the receipt of vehicle data;   receiving the vehicle data from at least one of a brake control unit, an engine control unit, and a transmission control unit based on the received parameters;   generating a diagnostic log file from at least some of the vehicle data;   communicating the diagnostic log file to a remote computing device arranged to host a reverse auction that identifies at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service based on the communicated vehicle data;   receiving service information identifying the at least one vendor capable of providing the vehicle service; and   presenting service information representing the at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service through an output device of the diagnostic unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method to operate the diagnostic unit installed onboard the medium or heavy duty vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving user input to trigger communication of the diagnostic log file to the remote computing device arranged to host the reverse auction.   
     
     
         3 . The method to operate the diagnostic unit installed onboard the medium or heavy duty vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising:
 triggering communication of the diagnostic log file to the remote computing device arranged to host the reverse auction based on a configurable time interval, a configurable threshold, or violation of a specified event parameter.   
     
     
         4 . The method to operate the diagnostic unit installed onboard the medium or heavy duty vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising:
 triggering communication of the diagnostic log file to the remote computing device arranged to host the reverse auction based on engine coolant temperature data, engine speed data, fuel injector data, throttle position data, brake data, gearbox data, vehicle speed data, or vehicle position data.   
     
     
         5 . The method to operate the diagnostic unit installed onboard the medium or heavy duty vehicle of  claim 1 , comprising:
 operating a portable data entry device in proximity to at least one token affixed to the medium or heavy duty vehicle;   collecting inspection data with the portable data entry device, the inspection data including a time stamp; and   generating the diagnostic log file based on at least some of the inspection data.   
     
     
         6 . A vehicle system, comprising:
 an input/output interface, the input/output interface configured to accept vehicle data, configuration data, and diagnostic data, and the input/output interface further configured to provide service information;   a vehicle control subsystem including at least one of a brake control unit, an engine control unit, and a transmission control unit, the vehicle control subsystem configured to provide at least some of the vehicle data; and   a diagnostic unit coupled to the at least one vehicle control subsystem, the diagnostic unit configured to generate diagnostic log information based on the vehicle data, the diagnostic unit configured to communicate the diagnostic log information to a computing device arranged to host a reverse auction that identifies at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service based on the diagnostic log information, the diagnostic unit configured to generate the service information presented to a vehicle operator via the input/output interface, the service information representing the at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the input/output interface comprises:
 a display panel to present at least some of the vehicle data;   a user input configured to accept vehicle operator commands associated with the presented vehicle data;   a transmitter to transmit the diagnostic log information to the computing device; and   a receiver to receive diagnostic data from the computing device, said received diagnostic data forming a basis for the service information generated by the diagnostic unit.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle system of  claim 7 , wherein the input/output interface comprises:
 a cellular modem that includes the transmitter and the receiver.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle system of  claim 7 , wherein the diagnostic unit comprises:
 a portable data entry device configured to receive inspection data when the portable data entry device is in proximity to at least one portion of the vehicle control subsystem wherein at least some of the inspection data is included in the diagnostic log information.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable data entry device comprises:
 a sensor, said sensor configured to detect a token affixed to the vehicle when the sensor of the portable data entry device is proximate to the token, the portable data entry device configured to receive the inspection data manually or automatically.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a memory associated with the diagnostic unit, the memory arranged to temporarily store the at least some of the vehicle data prior to the at least some of the vehicle data being communicated to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to communicate the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction when the diagnostic unit detects an anomaly in the diagnostic log information. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the anomaly in the diagnostic log information is a fault code. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the diagnostic log information sent to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction includes at least one minute of operational data collected both before and after the anomaly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to communicate the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction based on an input from a vehicle operator. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a processor associated with the diagnostic unit, the processor arranged to execute instructions that perform at least one function that causes the communication of the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the at least some of the configuration data received via the input/output interface is arranged to modify the at least one function that causes the communication of the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the diagnostic log information includes operational data, and wherein the modification of the at least one function that causes the communication of the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction includes at least one of:
 changing an amount of the operational data to be temporarily stored; 
 changing an amount of the operational data saved before the diagnostic unit detected the anomaly in the diagnostic log information; 
 changing an amount of the operational data saved after the diagnostic unit detected the anomaly in the diagnostic log information; 
 changing a type of the operational data captured; and 
 changing a definition of what constitutes the anomaly. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the diagnostic log information includes operational data, and wherein the operational data is generated by the brake control unit, the engine control unit, or the transmission control unit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a wireless modem to communicate the diagnostic log information to the computing device arranged to host the reverse auction.   
     
     
         21 . A system to automatically receive inspection data indicating a vehicle servicing requirement and to automatically provide an operator of the vehicle with pricing data for one or more vendors willing to address the servicing requirement, comprising:
 (a) a handheld electronic device that permits entry by the user of inspection data while a user is viewing the vehicle;   (b) an assembly at a remote location relative to the vehicle, the assembly having a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored, a data link to automatically receive the inspection data, and a processor coupled to the memory and to the data link to execute the machine instructions, the machine instructions arranged to carry out a plurality of functions, including:
 (i) receiving the inspection data indicating a vehicle service requirement; 
 (ii) conveying data defining the vehicle servicing requirement to a plurality of vehicle repair vendors to enable each vehicle repair vendor interested in repairing the vehicle to provide a price quote for the respective vehicle repair vendor to repair the vehicle; and 
 (iii) conveying to the operator of the vehicle information about the servicing requirement and information about the respective price quote from each vehicle repair vendor interested in repairing the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a second data link to automatically convey operational performance data from the vehicle to the assembly at the remote location.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a plurality of machine readable tokens, each of the plurality of machine readable tokens attached to a different location on the vehicle exterior, wherein entry by the user of inspection data includes positioning the handheld electronic device within a threshold distance and angle relative to the token, recognizing by the handheld electronic device the position of the handheld electronic device within the threshold distance and angle relative to the token, and recording by the handheld electronic device a time stamp when the handheld electronic device is positioned within the threshold distance and angle relative to the token.   
     
     
         24 . A diagnostic unit arranged for installation onboard a medium or heavy duty vehicle, comprising:
 a power interface coupleable to an onboard vehicle electrical power system;   a diagnostic interface coupleable to an in vehicle diagnostic data communication network, the diagnostic interface configured to receive vehicle data from at least one of a brake control unit, an engine control unit, and a transmission control unit;   a processor configured to generate a diagnostic log file from at least some of the vehicle data;   a remote computing device interface, the remote computing device interface configured to receive parameters that control the receipt of the vehicle data, the remote computing device interface configured to communicate the diagnostic log file to a remote computing device arranged to host a reverse auction that identifies at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service based on the communicated vehicle data; and   an output interface to present service information presented to a vehicle operator, the service information representing the at least one vendor capable of providing vehicle service.   
     
     
         25 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 24  wherein the diagnostic log file comprises:
 a diagnostic log file revision; 
 a diagnostic log file type; 
 a device ID; 
 a configured time interval; and 
 vehicle data. 
 
     
     
         26 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 24  wherein the diagnostic interface conforms with a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939 protocol. 
     
     
         27 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 24  wherein the processor is configured to monitor the vehicle data and trigger generation of the diagnostic log file. 
     
     
         28 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 27  wherein the trigger to generate the diagnostic log file is based on a configurable time interval. 
     
     
         29 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 27  wherein the trigger to generate the diagnostic log file is based on a configurable threshold or based on a list of event parameters. 
     
     
         30 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 27  wherein the vehicle data includes at least some of engine coolant temperature data, engine speed data, fuel injector data, throttle position data, brake data, gearbox data, vehicle speed data, and vehicle position data. 
     
     
         31 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 24 , comprising:
 a portable data entry device interface configured to receive inspection data from a portable data entry device, the portable data entry device configured to store the inspection data when the portable data entry device is in proximity to at least one token affixed to the medium or heavy duty vehicle, wherein at least some of the inspection data is included in the diagnostic log information.   
     
     
         32 . The diagnostic unit of  claim 24  wherein the remote computing device interface comprises:
 a wireless modem.